94 e320 battery issue..maybe?
 

Hi,

Last week our 94 e320 had to be jumped a couple of times. After the second time I had my wife go to the local service station and test the battery. They took a look at it and said the water was very low..couldn't suck any out for a test. They filled it back up and said we may need a new battery but was unsure because he couldn't properly test it with the water so low at this point. He suggested charging it overnight with the new water addition and seeing what happens. He jumps the car and she drives home. I didn't get a chance to charge and it was fine like that for about 3 days.

Yesterday the car is dead again. I tried jumping it and no start. I even pulled a battery from one of my Miata (half size of benz) and no start...no cranking, nothing. I took the battery to NAPA, left it overnight for a good charge and they report it is now fully charged. Can I expect it to hold after a good solid recharge?

background...

94 e320 74,000 miles, battery looks fairly new but unsure of age because the top month/year sheet is not punched out..it is an Interstate battery I can post battery specs later after I pick it up from NAPA.

If I do need a new battery, any suggestions?

i don't know if its the battery or not but u can't base the strength of a battery based on looks

the location of the battery is designed very well that it won't ever get dirty

i had the same thing happen to me @ 90K, it was the battery in my case and got a new one for like $100

good luck to you

battery problem
 

I have a 94 E-320 and experienced the same problem several months ago. I've over looked checking the water level in the battery since I got the car. (many years. I thought it was a maintenance free battery and in the end it was.........)

I tried starting the car one day in my garage and noticed a slight hesitation when starting and so kept trying, to push its limit, and it died after the third try.

Check the water level and several cell were dry or low. Filled and charged for 24 hrs. on trickel charge. Started right up but after about 6-8 hours went back and dead again.

If the water level gets to low the cell plates ground out and the battery can't recover. I replaced the battery and no problem.

If the charging system is working and the belt is tight I conclude it's the battery.
GL
DSR

I think I'm having the same problem with my '94 E420. Hesitation when starting, but then again, my car sits for several weeks without being started.

Should I spring for the MB battery, or will a DieHard do?

Craig

You're presumably using de-ionized water or whatever the stuff you're supposed to use is?

I opted to replace the current Interstate MB 88 battery with 740/900 amp specs with the same (big freakin' battery). Cost was $104.00 out the door. From now on I'll be checking the water on a regular schedule. Seems to be just fine but I just installed it last night in the parking lot of my wifes workplace. It was recharged Sat night at Napa, I put in back in on Sunday, started fine Monday 8:30am but was dead by Monday 3pm.

I guess it just never recovered from the low water :(